Simplified interconnect for center of wide body aircraft

ABSTRACT

An electrical cable interconnect device for use in an opening in a panel of an aircraft to interconnect cables on opposite sides of the panel. The interconnect device has a bracket having at least one peripheral edge that is configured and adapted to attach to the panel. A plate extends along a portion of the at least one peripheral edge of the bracket and through the opening in the panel. The plate has at least one opening that allows an electrical cable and/or a connector to be attached to the plate so that the plate facilitates interconnection of electrical cables on opposite sides of the panel. A cover can be disposed on top of the bracket so that the cover covers a portion of the opening in the panel. A gasket can be positioned between the bracket and the panel to seal the connection of the bracket to the panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/008,325 filed on Nov. 7, 2001, and now issued as U.S. Pat. No.______, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to brackets that are used to holdelectric cables, and more particularly, to brackets specifically adaptedfor use in an aircraft that enables electrical cables on opposite sidesof a panel in the aircraft to be interconnected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Commercial passenger airlines typically have multiple rows ofpassenger seats that are arranged in columns separate by one or moreaisles. There are occasions when it is necessary to run electricalcables to the passenger seats in order to provide the passengers accessto various services, such as telecommunications, lighting, audio/sound,broadband communications, etc. On aircraft that have the passenger seatsarranged into columns separated by single aisles, the wiring typicallyenters the passenger compartment through openings located along thepassenger compartment walls. Larger wide body aircraft, however,typically have multiple columns of seats separated by multiple aisles.In such aircraft it is difficult to effectively route the cables fromthe walls of the passenger compartment to the passenger seats locatednear the center of the aircraft because of the intervening aisle. Onealternative would be to route the wiring through the floor of thepassenger compartment rather than the walls. Accordingly, it would bedesirable to provide a convenient and secure means for routing theelectrical wiring through the passenger compartment floor on thoseaircraft that have more than one aisle separating the passenger seats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with the present invention, a preferred embodimentof an electrical cable interconnect device for use in an opening in apanel of an aircraft is disclosed. The interconnect device comprises abracket having at least one peripheral edge. The at least one peripheraledge is configured and adapted to attach to a first surface of the paneladjacent the opening. A plate having opposite first and second ends isattached to the bracket. The first end of the plate is attached to andextends along a portion of the at least one peripheral edge of thebracket. The second end of the plate extends through the opening in thepanel. The plate has at least one opening that is configured and adaptedto allow an electrical cable to be attached to the plate so that theplate facilitates interconnection of electrical cables on opposite sidesof the panel. The interconnect device may have a cover. The cover isdisposed on top of the bracket so that the bracket is between the coverand the first surface of the panel. The cover covers a portion of theopening in the panel. Optionally, but preferably, a portion of an edgeof the cover is offset to form an access opening through which the atleast one electrical cable can be routed. The access opening allows theat least one electrical cable to pass through the access opening andthrough the opening in the panel.

[0005] Preferably, the at least one peripheral edge of the bracket is aplurality of peripheral edges that are connected to form a generallyrectangular shaped frame with a central opening. The peripheral edgesare configured and adapted to attach to the first surface of the panelwith the central opening in the frame generally aligned with the openingin the panel. A gasket can be interposed between the at least oneperipheral edge and the first surface of the panel.

[0006] The interconnect device can also include at least one connector.The at least one connector has first and second ends and is attached tothe plate so that the at least one connector extends through the atleast one opening with the first and second ends on opposite sides ofthe plate. The first end is configured and adapted to connect to anelectrical cable on one side of the panel and the second end isconfigured and adapted to connect to an electrical cable on an oppositeside of the panel so that the electrical cables on opposite sides of thepanel can be conductively interconnected by the at least one connector.

[0007] Preferably, the at least one opening comprises at least oneprimary opening and a plurality of secondary openings. The at least oneprimary opening is configured and adapted to allow the at least oneconnector to extend through the at least one primary opening with thefirst and second ends of the least one connector being on opposite sidesof the plate. The plurality of secondary openings are spaced about aperiphery of the at least one primary opening and are configured andadapted to attach the at least one connector to the plate.

[0008] Even more preferably, the at least one connector is one of aplurality of connectors and the at least one primary opening is one of aplurality of primary openings. Each primary opening of the plurality ofprimary openings is configured and adapted to allow at least oneconnector of the plurality of connectors to extend through the primaryopening with the first and second ends of the at least one connector ofthe plurality of connectors being on opposite sides of the plate. Theplurality of secondary openings are spaced about a periphery of theplurality of primary openings and are configured and adapted to attachthe plurality of connectors to the plate.

[0009] The present invention thereby provides an electrical cableinterconnect device that can be used in an opening in a panel of anaircraft to interconnect electrical cables on opposite sides of thepanel.

[0010] Further areas of applicability of the present invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. Itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention,are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a passengercompartment floor panel within a fuselage of an aircraft, wherein thefloor panel has multiple access openings;

[0013]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical cableinterconnect device of the present invention;

[0014] FIGS. 3A-E are partial views of various embodiments of the plateof the interconnect device of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a side view of an interconnect device of the presentinvention installed in a panel of an aircraft and showing the use of astrap to attach a connector with an attached electrical cable to theplate;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a side view of an interconnect device of the presentinvention installed in a panel of an aircraft with radial connectorsbeing attached to the plate and electrical cables being attached to theconnectors;

[0017] FIGS. 6A-B are perspective views of two different types ofconnectors that can be used with the interconnect device of the presentinvention; and

[0018]FIG. 7 is a side view of the interconnect device of FIG. 5 showingcables on opposite sides of the panel being interconnected by theinterconnect device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) ismerely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit theinvention, its application, or uses.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a passenger compartment floorpanel 20 having multiple openings 22 that are generally rectangular inshape. The openings 22 provide a means for routing cables 24, as shownin FIG. 7, through the floor panel 20 and into a passenger compartmentof an aircraft. The number and the location of the openings 22 will varydepending on the requirements of the particular installation. While theopening 22 is shown and described as being rectangular in shape, itshould be understood that other shapes are possible, and that the actualshape will depend in large part on the requirements of the particularinstallation. For example, the opening 22 could be circular and still bewithin the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an electrical cableinterconnect device, generally indicated as 26, in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention. The interconnect device26 provides a convenient and secure means for interconnecting electricalcables 24 below the floor panel 20 to electrical cables 24 in thepassenger compartment above the floor panel 20. The interconnect device26 has a cover 28, a bracket 30 and a gasket 32.

[0022] The bracket 30 has at least one peripheral edge 34 that isadapted and configured to attach to a top surface 36 of the floor panel20. Preferably, the at least one peripheral edge 34 is one of aplurality of peripheral edges 38 that are arranged to form a frame 40with a central opening 42. Preferably, the frame 40 is shaped to becomplementary to the shape of the opening 22 in the floor panel 20. Thebracket 30 has a plurality of mounting holes 43 to attach the bracket 30to the floor panel 20. When the bracket 30 is attached to the floorpanel 20, the central opening 42 in the bracket 30 is generally alignedwith the opening 22 in the floor panel 20.

[0023] A plate 44 having opposite first and second ends 46, 48 extendsfrom the bracket 30 through the opening 22 in the floor panel 20. Thefirst end 46 of the plate 44 extends along a portion 50 of the at leastone peripheral edge 34 and the second end 48 of the plate 44 extendsthrough the opening 22 in the floor panel 20, as can be seen in FIGS. 4,5, and 7. The plate 44 can be integral to the bracket 30, as shown inFIGS. 2, 5, and 7. That is, the plate 44 can be a part of the bracket 30and made from a single piece of material. For example, the bracket 30and the plate 44 can be stamped from a single piece of sheet metal.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the plate 44 can be a discretecomponent separate from the bracket 30 that is attached to the portion50 of the at least one peripheral edge 34 by a variety of means. Forexample, the plate 44 can be attached to the portion 50 of the at leastone peripheral edge 34 of the bracket 30 by rivets, screws, adhesives,and a variety of other means that will be apparent to those skilled inthe art.

[0024] The plate 44 has at least one opening 52. The at least oneopening 52 is configured and adapted to allow an electrical cable 24 tobe attached to the plate 44 so that the plate 44 facilitates theinterconnection of electrical cables 24 on opposite sides of the floorpanel 20. Preferably, the at least one opening 52 is one of a pluralityof openings 54 in the plate 44. The openings 54 in the plate 44, as canbe seen in FIGS. 3A-D, can come in a variety of shapes and sizesdepending upon the application in which the plate 44 is to be used andthe desired method of attaching the cable 24 to the plate 44.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a strap 56 is usedto attach a cable 24 to the plate 44. The openings 54, as shown in FIG.3E, are configured and adapted to receive the strap 56 to attach a cable24 to the plate 44. The openings 54 can come in a variety of shapes,such as slots, to facilitate the use of a strap 56 to secure the cable24 to the plate 44. The strap 56 can come in a variety of forms as willbe apparent to those skilled in the art. For example the strap 56 couldbe a tie wrap that goes through the openings 54 in the plate 44 andsecures the cable 24 to the plate 44. The strap 56 could be a metal wireor twist tie that secures the cable 24 to the plate 44. The strap 56could also be an elastomeric band that retains the cable 24 against theplate 44. The strap 56 could also come in the form of a clip that fitsinto one or more openings 54 and secures the cable 24 to the plate 44.Therefore, the strap 56 can come in a variety of forms and still bewithin the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0026] When the cable 24 is attached to the plate 44 with a strap 56, itis preferred that a protective member 58 be positioned between the cable24 and the plate 44 and/or the strap 56 to protect the cable 24 frombeing damaged by the plate 44 and/or the strap 56. The protective member58 can come in a variety of forms. For example, as can be seen in FIG.4, the protective member 58 could be a sleeve in which the cable 24 isinserted so that the protective member 58 is in contact with the plate44 and the strap 56. The protective member could also be in the form ofa sheet or strip that is placed between the cable 24 and the plate 44and/or the strap 56. Preferably, the protective member 58 is made from aphenolic material. However, it should be understood that the shape andform of the protective member 58 and the material out of which theprotective member 58 is made can be varied, as will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined by the claims.

[0027] In an alternate preferred embodiment, the cables 24 are attachedto the plate 44 by means of a connector 60. The connector 60 has firstand seconds 62, 64 that are configured and adapted to connect toelectrical cables 24, as is known in the art. The at least one opening52 in the plate 44 is configured and adapted to secure the connector 60to the plate 44 with the first and second ends 62, 64 of the connector60 being on opposite sides of the plate 44, as can be seen in FIG. 5.The connector 60 can come in a variety of forms, as will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. For example, as can be in seen in FIG. 6A, theconnector 60 can be a radial or barrel connector 60. When the connector60 is a radial connector 60, the at least one opening 52 in the plate 44is generally circular in shape, as can be seen in FIG. 3A. The radialconnector 60, as shown in FIG. 5, extends through the at least oneopening 52 in the plate 44 and has a cable 24 attached to the first end62. The connector 60 can be secured to the plate 44 by a variety ofmeans, as is known in the art. For example, the radial connector 60 canhave a threaded portion 65 that extends through the at least one opening52 in the plate 44 so that nuts 66 can be positioned on the radialconnector 60 on opposite sides of the plate 44 and secure the radialconnector 60 to the plate 44. The connector 60 can also be designed tobe press fit or snapped into the at least one opening 52 in the plate44. When the connector 60 is press fit or snapped into the at least oneopening 52, the connector 60 preferably has tabs (not shown) that retainthe connector 60 in the at least one opening 52 in the plate 44, as isknown in the art. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the connector 60conductively interconnects cables 24 above and below the floor panel 20.The attachment of the cable 24 and/or the connector 60 to the plate 44minimizes the possibility of the interconnected cables 24 from becominginadvertently disconnected. Preferably, the at least one opening 52 isone of a plurality of openings 54 so that more than one set of cables 24can be interconnected, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0028] In another alternate preferred embodiment, as can be seen inFIGS. 3B-D, the at least one opening 52 in the plate 44 comprises atleast one primary opening 68 and a plurality of secondary openings 70.The at least one primary opening 68 is configured and adapted to allowone or more connectors 60 to extend through the at least one primaryopening 68 with the first and second ends 62, 64 of the connectors 60being on opposite sides of the plate 44. The plurality of secondaryopenings 70 are spaced about a periphery of the at least one primaryopening 68. The plurality of secondary openings 70 are configured andadapted to attach the connector(s) 60 to the plate 44. For example, whenthe connector 60, as shown in FIG. 6B, has a plurality of openings 72spaced around a periphery of the connector 60, the connector 60 can beattached to the plate 44 by inserting the first or second end 62, 64 ofthe connector 60 through the at least one primary opening 68 andaligning the plurality of openings 72 in the connector 60 with theplurality of secondary openings 70 spaced about the periphery of the atleast one primary opening 68. The alignment of the plurality of openings72 in the connector 60 with the plurality of secondary openings 70 inthe plate 44 allows the connector 60 to be attached to the plate 44 bymeans of mechanical fasteners (not shown), such as screws or rivets, orby other means, as are known in the art and as will be apparent to askilled practitioner. Alternatively, the connector 60 could have aplurality of projections (not shown) that extend from the connector 60in the locations where the plurality of openings 72 are located. Theprojections align with the plurality of secondary openings 70 when theconnector 60 is inserted through the at least one primary opening 68.The projections are pressed into the plurality of secondary openings 70on the plate 44 to secure the connector 60 to the plate 44, as will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

[0029] Preferably, the at least one primary opening 68 is one of aplurality of primary openings 74. Each primary opening 74 is configuredand adapted to allow at least one connector 60 to extend through theprimary opening 74 with the first and second ends 62, 64 of theconnector 60 being on opposite sides of the plate 44. The shape andconfiguration of the primary openings 74 will depend upon the type ofconnector 60 that is going to be used to secure the cable 24 to theplate 44. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the connector 60 is aradial or barrel connector 60, the primary openings 74 are circular.When the connector 60 is a D-subconnector, the primary openings 74 aregenerally trapezoidal in shape, as shown in FIG. 3C and as is known inthe art. The primary openings 74 can be generally U-shaped openings 75,as shown in FIG. 3D. The U-shaped openings 75 are designed toaccommodate more than one connector 60 in each of the U-shaped openings75. The U-shaped openings 75 shown in FIG. 3D are configured and adaptedto receive three D-subconnectors 60 in each of the U-shaped openings 75.Each of the primary openings 74 has a plurality of secondary openings 70spaced about the periphery of the primary openings 74. As was discussedabove, the secondary openings 70 are configured and adapted to attachthe connector 60 to the plate 44.

[0030] Referring now to FIG. 2, the cover 28 is shaped to becomplementary to the bracket 30 and the opening 22 in the floor panel20. The cover 28 has a raised area 76 on the top surface 78 of the cover28. The raised area 76 of the cover 28 is preferably along an edge 80 ofthe cover 28. The raised area 76 is offset from the top surface 78 apredetermined distance 82 and forms an access opening 84. The offsetdistance 82 is preferably only slightly larger than a maximum diameterof a cable 24 that will be routed through the access opening 84. Theraised area 76 preferably extends away from the edge 80 a sufficientdistance to allow the cables 24 to pass through the access opening 84and be interconnected to cables 24 below the floor panel 20 withouthaving to bend sharply. A width (not shown) of the access opening 84created by the raised area 76 can vary depending upon the number ofcables 24 being routed through the access opening 84. The cover 28 has aplurality of mounting holes 86 spaced along a periphery of the cover 28for attaching the cover 28 to the floor panel 20. The mounting holes 86in the cover 28 align with the mounting holes 43 in the bracket 30.

[0031] The gasket 32 is complementary to the peripheral edge 34 of thebracket 30 and to the opening 22 in the floor panel 20. The gasket 32 ispositioned around a periphery of the opening 22 in the floor panel 20and in immediate contact with the top surface 36 of the floor panel 20with a central opening 87 in the gasket 32 being generally aligned withthe opening 22 in the floor panel 20. The gasket 32 is preferably madeof rubber, but other materials having similar functional sealingcharacteristics may also be used. The gasket 32 has mounting holes 88along the perimeter which are provided for attaching the gasket 32 tothe floor panel 20. The mounting holes 88 align with the mounting holes43 in the bracket 30.

[0032] In using the interconnect device 26 to interconnect cables 24 onopposite sides of the floor panel 20, a cable 24 below the floor panel20 and/or a connector 60 is attached to the plate 44 by any of themethods described above. A cable 24 above the opening 22 in the floorpanel 20 is then interconnected to the cable 24 either by connecting tothe connector 60 or to the cable 24 that is attached to the plate 44.The interconnecting of the cables 24 above and below the floor panel 20are continued until all the cables 24 are interconnected. Wheninterconnecting the cables 24, the cables 24 above the floor panel 20are routed through the openings in the gasket 42 and in the bracket 30so that the gasket 32 and the bracket 30 can be attached to the floorpanel 20 without pinching any of the cables 24 and the cables 24 abovethe floor panel 20 pass through the access opening 84 when the cover 28is attached. After all the cables are interconnected, the gasket 32, thebracket 30, the plate 44 (if a discrete part) and the cover 28 arealigned and attached to the top surface 36 of the floor panel 20.Preferably, the interconnect device 26 is connected to the top surface36 of the floor panel 20 by screws 90 (for clarity only one screw isshown). However, it should be understood that other means of attachingthe interconnect device 26 to the top surface 36 of the floor panel 20,as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, can be used withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0033] The interconnect device 26 thereby provides a convenient andsecure means for interconnecting cables 24 that are routed on oppositesides of the floor panel 20 in an aircraft. Furthermore, theinterconnect device 26 can be readily adapted to accommodate variousinstallations, thus eliminating or minimizing many of the problemsassociated with interconnecting cables that are routed on opposite sidesof the floor panel 20.

[0034] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in natureand, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the inventionare intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variationsare not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of interconnecting cables on oppositesides of a panel, the method comprising: (a) attaching a first cablethat extends from a first side of an opening in the panel to a supportmember; (b) connecting a second cable that extends from a second side ofsaid opening in the panel to said first cable; (c) securing said supportmember in a fixed position, relative to said opening, that results insaid attachment of said first cable to said support member to be on oneof said first and second sides of said opening in the panel; and (d)maintaining said first cable attached to said support member.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein (c) includes attaching a portion of saidsupport member to one side of said opening in the panel.
 3. The methodof claim 2, wherein attaching a portion of said support member includesattaching a portion of said support member that is free of saidattachment of said first cable to said support member to one side ofsaid opening in the panel.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein attaching aportion of said support member includes attaching said portion to saidsecond side of said opening in the panel.
 5. The method of claim 2,wherein attaching a portion of said support member includes attaching aperipheral edge of a bracket integral with said support member to thepanel on one said of said opening.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising attaching a cover over one side of said opening in the panel.7. The method of claim 6, wherein attaching a cover includes attaching acover having an offset portion with one of said cables extending betweensaid offset portion and said opening in the panel.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein (a) includes directly attaching said first cable tosaid support member.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) includesattaching said first cable to one side of said support member and (b)includes attaching said second cable to said first cable from anopposite side of said support member.
 10. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising attaching a connector having opposite first and second endsto said support member and wherein (a) includes attaching said firstcable to said first end of said connector and (b) includes attachingsaid second cable to said second end of said connector therebyinterconnecting said second cable to said first cable.
 11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein (a) includes attaching said first cable to an openingin said support member.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprisingperforming (c) prior to performing (b).
 13. The method of claim 1further comprising performing (c) prior to performing (a).
 14. Themethod of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises attaching said first cable to aplate.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) and (b) compriseconnecting electrical cables in electrical communication with oneanother.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the panel is a panel in amobile platform.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said mobileplatform is an aircraft.
 18. A method of interconnecting electricalcables on opposite sides of an opening in a panel, the methodcomprising: (a) connecting a first cable on one side of the opening inthe panel to a second cable on an opposite side of the opening; and (b)securing a cover plate over at least a portion of the opening in thepanel with one of said cables passing through an access opening formedby an offset portion of the cover that extends along an edge of thecover.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein (a) includes securing an endportion of said first cable to a first member that is operable to retainsaid end portion of said first cable on one of said sides of the openingin the panel.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein (a) includes attachingsaid first member to one side of the opening in the panel.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, wherein (a) includes attaching said first member toa same side of the opening in the panel as said end portion of saidfirst cable is retained.
 22. The method of claim 19, wherein (a) furtherincludes securing said end portion of said first cable to an opening insaid first member.
 23. The method of claim 19, wherein (a) furtherincludes: attaching a connecter to said first member; attaching said endportion of said first cable to one end of said connector; and attachingan end portion of said second cable to another end of said connectorthereby interconnecting said first and second cables to one another. 24.The method of claim 19, wherein (a) includes directly connecting saidend portion of said first cable to said first member.
 25. The method ofclaim 19, wherein (a) further includes maintaining said end portion ofsaid first cable secured to said first member.
 26. The method of claim18, wherein (a) comprises connecting electrical cables in electricalcommunication with one another.
 27. The method of claim 18, wherein thepanel is a panel in a mobile platform.
 28. The method of claim 27,wherein said mobile platform is an aircraft.
 29. A method ofinterconnecting electrical cables on opposite sides of a panel of anaircraft, the method comprising: (a) attaching a first electrical cablethat extends from a first side of an opening in the panel of theaircraft to a support member; (b) connecting a second electrical cablethat extends from a second side of said opening in the panel of theaircraft to said first cable so that said first and second cables areelectrically conductively connected to one another; (c) securing saidsupport member in a fixed position that results in said attachment ofsaid first cable to said support member to be on one of said first andsecond sides of said opening in the panel of the aircraft; and (d)maintaining said first cable attached to said support member.
 30. Themethod of claim 29, wherein (c) is performed prior to any of (a) and(b).
 31. The method of claim 29, wherein (a) includes directly attachingsaid first cable to said support member.
 32. The method of claim 29,wherein (a) includes attaching said first cable to one side of saidsupport member and (b) includes attaching said second cable to saidfirst cable from an opposite side of said support member.
 33. The methodof claim 29, wherein (a) includes attaching said first cable to anopening in said support member.
 34. The method of claim 29, furthercomprising performing (c) prior to performing (b).
 35. A method ofsupporting a cable passing through an opening in a panel, the methodcomprising: (a) attaching a first cable that extends from a first sideof an opening in the panel to a support member; (b) securing saidsupport member in a fixed position that results in said attachment ofsaid first cable to said support member to be on one of said first andsecond sides of said opening in the panel at a point closely adjacent tothe opening; and (c) maintaining said first cable attached to saidsupport member.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein (b) includessecuring said support member so that said attachment of said first cableto said support member is on said second side of the opening in thepanel.
 37. The method of claim 35, further comprising connecting asecond cable that extends from a second side of the opening in the panelto said first cable so that said first and second cables are connectedto one another.